SHORT-SPOKEN Synonyms: 77 Similar and Opposite Words

short-spoken

adjective

ˈshȯrt-ˌspō-kən

Definition of short-spoken

as in blunt

being or characterized by direct, brief, and potentially rude speech or manner don't expect much information or friendly chitchat from the short-spoken villagers

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for short-spoken

Adjective

The coroner listed his cause of death as multiple blunt-force injuries and his manner of death as an accident.

— Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 2 Nov. 2026
Newsom’s support for the deal came after Paramount threatened to move operations to Tennessee or Texas, placing more pressure on Bonta to come to an agreement and blunt efforts to lose California’s signature industry.

— Stacy Perman, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of blunt

Adjective

That was soon followed by two short drives, both finished by junior running back Dylan Riley.

— Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 25 Oct. 2026
Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets of Paris in today’s demonstrations, which were described by a senior police officer, speaking to CNN affiliate BFMTV, as largely peaceful — until a short while ago.

— Joseph Ataman, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of short

Adjective

The PIT is a controversial spin-and-stall maneuver where the chasing officer aligns his front bumper with the rear quarter panel of a fleeing vehicle and turns sharply into it, breaking the rear-tire traction and forcing the car into an abrupt spin.

— Brittany Wallman, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2026
Awkward relationships have to be dispatched with abrupt carriage accidents.

— Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of abrupt

Adjective

The two-time Oscar winner wrote in his upcoming memoir, Look at Me, that Nichols was gruff in their interactions.

— Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Nov. 2026
Loneliness looms as a threat to all genders, but men, who are lauded for gruff stoicism and scorned for vulnerability, can be especially ill-equipped to navigate atomization.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of gruff

Adjective

The feud helped cost Republicans an incumbent who may have been tougher for Democrats to dislodge, and Tillis has emerged as an increasingly outspoken critic of the president.

— Bill Barrow, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2026
Some Democrats have been outspoken in their support of impeaching members of the Cabinet, such as War Secretary Pete Hegseth.

— Hailey Bullis, The Washington Examiner, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of outspoken

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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“Short-spoken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/short-spoken. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of short-spoken

adjective

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